Talking Points

Nova High School Hosts Debate Tournament For Florida High School Students.

January 4, 2006|By Laura Burdick Sherman Special Correspondent

More than 500 Florida high school students, parents and coaches proved debating is hard work at the recent sixth annual Titan Invitational Tournament at Nova High School in Davie.

The competition drew participants from as far as Orlando to debate issues ranging from why video games are an art form to the treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay to whether NBA players should have to abide by a dress code.

The debate coach at the host school, Nova High, praised the art of debating.

"These are the skills that educators want," said Lisa Miller, who teaches and coaches more than 180 students at the Davie campus, along with Kim Calaluca.

Miller said noneducators also are impressed with her students. She said lawyers have told her that high school students who are debaters are as familiar with common law as many law students.

Nova students were hosts for the event, but did not participate. Categories included original oratory, extemporaneous speaking, public forum, student congress, the Lincoln-Douglas debate, humorous, dramatic, oral and duo interpretations.

"I think it went really well," said Josh Rovenger, 17, of Davie, a Nova High senior and president of the debate team. "We had a lot of parent volunteers."

He said debating is a great activity and "develops speaking skills to express our own opinions."

Cypress Bay High debate coach John Anderson said he was pleased with the performance of his seven students from the Weston school.

"I was very impressed. These kids have refined their positions," Anderson said.

Debate is open to anyone, and doesn't require years of experience.

Western High's debate coach, Nancy Dean, who came with 63 students, got involved in debate about four years ago.

"I didn't even know what debate was -- I learned by judging," she said.

Although everyone wants to excel in their categories, the students at the competition proved that winning isn't everything.

Waiting at a bus stop after being cut from the competition, Hollywood Hills High sophomore Alex Boruff, 15, of Hollywood, said: "I placed last in my category, but I gave it my best. It was fun."

"Debate is the greatest thing. I love it. I think politicians should go see -- if they knew how great the kids talk, they'd be blown away.

"My event was original oratory, so I choose what I want to say and it's about social problems. Whatever speech debaters chose, it's because they see something and want to do something about it," Rodriguez said.